Window control mechanism



Jan. 11, 1955 J. H. ROETHEL 2,699,346

WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM Filed July 18, 1951 INVENTOR. J'Zfi Faezigl WWWUnited States Patent Ofilice 2,699,346 Patented Jan. 11, 1955 2,699,346WINDOW CONTROL MECHANISM John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor toMarvel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganApplication July 18, 1951, Serial No. 237,453 Claims. (Cl. 287-3) Thisinvention relates to window regulator mechanism and particularly tomechanism for controlling the movement of glass or transparent panels orthe like of vehicles, especially automombile bodies, an object of theinvention being to provide an improved mechanism which is compact,relatively simple in construction and economical to manufacture,eliminates considerable frictional resistance to the movement of thewindow panel, is capable of being easily assembled, and is adapted foruse without material changes to various types of windows.

More particularly the present invention is embodied in improved meansfor slidingly connecting the outer end of a swinging regulator arm to abracket secured to the bottom of the glass or transparent retainerchannel or to a mounting plate fastened to the inner side of a vehiclebody or door panel, the improved means in its preferred form comprisinga transverse stud or pin fixed adjacent the outer end of the arm, acompression element on the having means cooperable with the adjacentportion of the regulator arm to hold the element on the stud insertionof the stud through such aperture.

Other features and objects of this invention will appear in thefollowing description and appended claims, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein likereference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a view illustrating a window regulator mecha' nism embodyingthe present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top elevation of the ends of thewindow regulator arms shown prior to connection to the transparent panelretainer channel bracket and the mounting plate.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 33 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating one embodimentof the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially through lines 4-4 of Fig. 1looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating a secondembodiment of the present invention.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. it is to be understoodthat the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purposeof description and not of limitation.

In the drawings the embodiments of the tion are illustrated inassociation with a wmdow regulator of the cross arm type, although itwill be understood that depending upon requirements such regulatormechanism may embody a window regulator of the single arm or double armtype. The window regulator mechanism of the cross arm type comprises apair of intersecting crossed arms 11 and 12 for raising and lowering thewindow pane These arms are pivoted together at 13 at the locality oftheir crossing and the construction and arrangement of the arms are suchthat they will pass by each other during operation The inner or lowerend of the arm 12, which may be present inventermed the balance arm, isprovided with a connection including a transverse stud 14 riveted to theend of the arm and slidable within a guideway or guide slot 15 in amounting plate 16. This connection of the arm 12 with the mounting plate16 will later be described in connection with Fig. 4.

The inner end of the regulator arm 11, which may be termed the drivingarm, is rigidly attached to a gear sector 17 journalled on a mountingplate 18 by a stud 19 which is adjustable in an arcuate slot 20 in theplate, the stud being held in fixed position by means of a nut and lockwasher 21. The gear 17 is driven by means of a pinion (not shown)secured in the usual manner to a transverse handle shaft 22 which may beturned by means of a crank handle at the inner side of the vehicle bodyor door. The mounting plates 16 and 18 are formed with suitable screwbosses 16a and 18a, respectively, by means of which the mounting platesmay be secured by screws to an inner panel. The weight of the windowpanel and attached parts is counterbalanced by means of a spiral orclock type spring 23, the inner end of which is anchored to the stud 13and the outer end of which is anchored to a pin 24 secured to the arm11.

The swinging arm 11 is provided at its outer end with a connectionincluding a transverse stud 25 adapted to travel Within a longitudinalguide slot or guideway 26 formed in a bracket 27 adapted to be securedto the bottom of a glass retainer channel. Similarly, the swing ing arm12 is provided at its outer end with a connection also including atransverse stud 25 adapted to travel within a longitudinal guideway orguide slot: 28 formed in a bracket 29 also adapted to be secured to thebottom of the glass retainer channel.

In Fig. 3 the construction of the with the connection of the windowregulator arm 11 thereto is shown. It will be understood that the sameconstruction is provided for the connection of the outer end of thewindow regulator arm 12 to the bracket 29.

Referring to Fig. 3 the guide bracket 27 comprises an angle adapted tobe secured, as by spot welding, to the bottom of a glass retainerchannel. The depending wall or flange 30 of this guide bracket is formedwith the longitudinal horizontal guide slot 26, the edges 31 of whichare turned out or rolled. The stud 25 is riveted to the outer end of theregulator arm 11 and is provided with a cylindrical transverse shank 32of uniform diameter. An annular groove 33 is cut or machined adjacentthe outer end of the stud shank 32. Adapted to be mounted on the outerend of the regulator arm 11 is a compression element generallydesignated 34 which has a bore 35 through which the stud shank 32 isslidable into the position shown in Fig. 3.

The compression element 34, preferably made of spring steel, comprises acurved section 36 which approximates a portion of a cylinder thelongitudinal axis of which, when the element is mounted on the regulatorarm 11, is parallel to the longitudinal axis of said arm. Eachlongitudinal edge of the curved section 36 is; provided with a flange 37adapted to engage the side faces of the regulator arm 11. One of theflanges 37 is provided with a right angle extension 38 adapted to engagethe inner face of the regulator arm.

The regulator arm 11, the stud 25 and the compression element 34preferably comprises a sub-assembly which is put together prior to theinstallation of the regulator within the body or door frame. Inmanufacturing the subassembly the compression element 34 is slipped.over the bracket 27 together that the stud 25 will not rattle againstthe rolled edges of the bracket 27 due to vibration of the vehicle whilethe latter is in motion.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 4 differs from theembodiment of Fig. 3 in that the stud 14 shown therein has an enlargedhead 40 on its outer end and does not require a spring clip such as thespring clip 36 to retain it in proper relation to guide slot 15. As inthe previously described embodied embodiment, the guide slot 15 is alsoprovided with turned out or rolled edges 41. The mounting plate 16differs from the guide bracket 27 in order to accommodate the stud 14 inthat the guide slot 15 therein is enlarged at one end at 42 to permitthe insertion of the stud 14 into the slot 15 by movement in a planeparallel to the plane of the mounting plate 16 rather than by movementin a plane normal to the plane of the mounting plate, as is the casewhen the stud is inserted in the slot 26. The foregoing construction ispreferable in attaching the inner end of the regulator arm 12 to themounting plate 16 since the mounting plate is usually fastened to thevehicle panel prior to the installation of the regulator therebyrendering the outer end of the stud inaccessible for attaching a springdevice such as the spring device 36 after insertion through the apertureor slot 15.

It will be readily understood that the construction shown in Fig. 4could be utilized to connect the outer ends of the regulator arms 11 and12 to the respective brackets 27 and 29, if so desired.

The present invention has the important advantage of facilitating theinstallation of the window regulator within the body or door frame.Since the compression element 34 cannot fall or be knocked off of thestud 14 or the studs 25 the installer does not have to be too careful infitting the studs in the respective guide slots and the installationtime is accordingly accelerated.

I claim:

1. Means for slidably connecting the end of a swinging regulator arm toa member having a guide slot therein, comprising a compression elementmounted on said arm and having a section, one surface of which is partlyin contact with the edges of said slot and the opposite surface of whichis partly in contact with said arm, an aperture in said element, a studsecured to the end of said arm having a portion projecting through saidaperture and through said slot, a flange portion on said element inengagement with a longitudinal edge of said arm to prevent displacementof the element in a direction normal to the plane of the arm prior tothe insertion of said stud in said slot, and means on said stud toprevent withdrawal thereof from said slot in a direction normal to theplane of said member.

2. Means for slidably connecting the end of a swinging regulator arm toa member having a guide slot therein, comprising a compression elementmounted on said arm and having a curved section, one surface of which ispartly in contact with the edges of said slot and the opposite surfaceof which is partly in contact with said arm, an aperture in saidelement, a stud secured to the end of said arm having a portionprojecting through said aperture and through said slot, a flange portionon one edge of said curved section in engagement with a longitudinaledge of said arm to prevent displacement of the element in a directionnormal to the plane of the arm prior to the insertion of said stud insaid slot, and means on said stud to prevent withdrawal thereof fromsaid slot in a direction normal to the plane of said member and to holdsaid compression element under compression toward said arm.

3. Connecting means for slidably connecting an end of a swingingregulator arm to a member having a guide slot therein, comprising acompression element mounted on said arm and having a curved section, onesurface of which is partly in contact with one face of said member andthe opposite surface of which is in contact with said arm, said curvedsection comprising a segment of a cylinder having its longitudinal axisparallel to the longitudinal axis of the regulator arm, an aperture insaid element, a stud secured to the end of said arm having a portionprojecting through said aperture and through said slot, said segmentterminating on one longitudinal edge thereof in a flange portion inengagement with a longitudinal edge of said arm to prevent displacementof the element in a direction normal to the plane of the arm prior tothe insertion of said stud in said slot, and means on said stud toprevent withdrawal thereof from said slot in a direction normal to theplane of said member.

4. Connecting means for slidably connecting an end of a swingingregulator arm to a member having a guide slot therein, comprising acompression element mounted on said arm and having a curved sectionadapted to abut one face of said member and compressible toward one faceof said arm, said curved section comprising a segment of a cylinderhaving its longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of theregulator arm, an aperture in said element, a stud secured to the end ofsaid arm having a portion projecting through said aperture and throughsaid slot, a flange on at least one of the longitudinal edges of saidsection having an angularly related extension thereon engageable withthe other face of said arm, said extension preventing displacement ofsaid compression element in a direction normal to the plane of said armprior to the insertion of said stud in said slot, said stud having anenlarged portion on its outer end which after insertion in an enlargedopening at one end of said slot in a direction parallel to the plane ofsaid member will prevent withdrawal of said stud through said slot in adirection normal to the plane of said member.

5. Connecting means for slidably connecting an end of a swingingregulator arm to a member having a guide slot therein, comprising acompression element mounted on said arm and having a curved section, onesurface of which is partly in contact with said one face of said memberand the opposite surface of which is in contact with one face of saidarm, said section being compressible toward said one face of said arm,said curved section comprising a segment of a cylinder having itslongitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the regulatorarm, an aperture in said element, a stud secured to the end of said armhaving a portion projecting through said aperture and through said slot,a flange on at least one of the longitudinal edges of said sectionhaving an angularly related extension thereon engageable with the otherface of said arm, said extension preventing displacement of saidcompression element in a direction normal to the plane of said arm priorto the insertion of said stud in said slot, said stud having an annulargroove on its outer end, and a clip device insertable in said groove toabut the other face of said member to prevent withdrawal of said studfrom said slot in a direction normal to the plane of member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,353,523 Eustege Sept. 21, 1920 2,075,226 Rickel Mar. 30, 19372,077,105 Goserud Apr. 13, 1937 2,168,242 Roethel Aug. 1, 1939 2,296,811Devereaux Sept. 22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS 244,317 Great Britain Dec. 17,1925

